We often find that the seeds of passion are planted in our formative years, and typically leave a huge impression on us for the rest of our lives. They impact our decisions and our habits on a subconscious level; as we mature, we can begin to connect the dots on what inspired those passions and gain greater appreciation for their origin.

For me, the passion of gaming was sparked from an Intellivision that was handed down from my Aunt. This was the appetizer that would whet the appetite for the main course of the NES and the succulent dessert of the SNES. It wasn't just the games, however; as for most of us gamers, it is the experiences they provide.

Having a blast playing through Contra with my dad, struggling with Life Force, building together in SimCity and competing against one another in Doom 2 and Warcraft 2 were some of my most cherished memories. Looking back, I can tell that these experiences had a profound impact on how much I adore multi-player games and how I enjoy community building and socializing aspects of said games.

When I was a kid, I was truly blessed to have some amazing parents. Not everything was perfect growing up, as life tends not to be, but on the whole I feel incredibly lucky to have had an amazing mother, father and family on a whole. So for Father's Day this year, I wanted to thank my dad for sparking a lifelong passion through the simple act of spending time and having fun with me.

Thanks Dad, you really are awesome and I love you.